FAS Administrator Terpstra Defends Farm Bill, Praises USMEF | FAS Administra...

FAS Administrator Terpstra Defends Farm Bill,
Praises USMEF

FAS Administrator Ellen Terpstra told the USMEF BOD meeting on Thursday that the new farm bill is consistent with U.S. international trade obligations as well as providing "a generous and reliable safety net for our nation's farmers and ranchers."

Ms. Terpstra answered concerns about the impact of the support the Farm Bill gives U.S. producers on World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments. She noted that the support is little different from what’s been provided to farmers in recent years and maintained that USDA analysis indicates that the farm bill will be consistent with U.S. WTO obligations and the new farm bill contains a "circuit breaker," which requires the Secretary to ensure that the United States does not exceed any WTO limits. Ms. Terpstra reiterated that "the Administration remains committed to continuing our efforts to aggressively pursue trade reform in the new round of trade talks. The farm bill does not in any way change that."

Ms. Terpstra called USMEF "one of the many shining examples of what happens when the government and the private sector work together to promote trade. With the support of USDA funding under the Foreign Market Development Program, Market Access Program and other programs, USMEF has conducted a large variety of international activities to promote your members’ products. Your organization has appreciated the importance of open markets, and expanded trade since inception in 1976. You understand that we must look beyond our borders for markets, and build relationships that result in increased exports."

Ms. Terpstra called the USMEF response to the Japanese BSE crisis "an excellent example of the U.S. industry, USDA staff in Washington and our joint overseas operations working together."

Ms. Terpstra praised USMEF’s "TQM – or Total Quality Marketing" approach and the "strong industry contributions of 110 percent for MAP and 130 percent for FMD."

She told the directors that USMEF can count on these programs in the future. The new farm bill reauthorizes the Market Access Program with expanded funding levels that grow to $200 million by 2007 and the Foreign Market Development Program through 2007 at $34.5 million annually.

The full text of Ms. Terpstra’s speech can be found at:

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